Clean energy election roundup: Nevada to go 50% renewable by 2030, Columbus 100% by 2023
A number of important clean energy initiatives were on the ballot across the country: Boulder, Colorado’s effort to form a municipal utility, Denver’s clean-energy-focused sales tax increase — plus one major utility in Wisconsin’s unprecedented commitment to solar.
Morning Brief: Trump thwarted in latest bid to kill solar-tariff loophole, plus pallets for PV modules
Also in the brief: Iberdrola’s deal worth $8.3 billion adds PNM Resources to its Avangrid business. The value of energy storage for military resilience. And Also emotional ownership is the key to delivering community solar.
Utility-scale solar roundup: PV-powered steel from Lightsource, Savion in Ohio and Michigan
Dean Solon, CEO of Shoals: “A lot of people thought that the 100 MW fields were all dead, but those suckers are coming back with a vengeance.”
Community solar under attack in Colorado
Solar advocates appeal to the courts as the state’s utilities and Public Utilities Commission move to cut bill credits to community solar subscribers — and potentially open the door to further reductions.
Solar-powered steel production from Lightsource bp’s Bighorn Project in Colorado
The iron and steel sector is the “world’s largest industrial source of climate pollution.” This steel mill in Pueblo, Colorado will be the first in North America to rely on solar power.
State solar news: Net metering attacked in Vermont and Utah, Maine goes big in PV
In Vermont and Utah, net metering is under attack — in danger of being significantly devalued or eliminated. In Arizona, the state’s rooftop solar export rates have been saved for at least another year. Outside of policy, Maine has announced the winners of the state’s largest-ever renewable solicitation.
Solar installation spotlight: balancing modernity and heritage at the Boulder Jewish Community Center
Sustainability, lower operating costs and return on investment all became paramount issues for the development of this system that will serve the Colorado nonprofit and surrounding Jewish community.
Solar installation spotlight: Boulder’s Calcaire House proves not all residential projects are created equal
As if a 60 kW residential system wasn’t novel enough, city energy mandates, environmental extremes and specific construction needs all combined to form a unique set of circumstances for one Colorado developer to overcome.
Morning Brief: Distributed Solar Development has acquired a community solar portfolio, community outreach in Hawaii
Also in the brief: solar pros running for elected office, Longroad Energy has announced a partnership with Maine’s Unity College, Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation has chosen a management platform for its distributed generation program and more.
More utilities bypassing natural gas bridge and going straight to renewables
Utilities that are transitioning away from coal are starting to view the creation of a natural gas “bridge” to renewable energy as an unnecessary step.
